How To Tell The Difference Between A Bad Day Or Depression
July 31, 2016
Am I Depressed Or Just Having A Bad Day?
All of us have a bad day (or days) from time to time. All of us experience the grief that comes from losing a loved one or going through a traumatic event. We may even have seasons where we just don’t seem as chipper and happy as we once were. [caption id="attachment_30246" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Credit: ThinkStock[/caption] So, how do we know that we are truly suffering from depression and not just having a bad day? How do we know when we should seek help or begin looking for ways to help with our struggles? How do we know when to speak up? When to ask for help? This can actually be a tricky thing to answer because truly there is no one size fits all for how people handle depression. I can only share from my personal experience and the experiences of those I love. [rsnippet id="3" name="Article-Ad"] I personally suffered from depression for several years and eventually sought help from my family doctor, a Christian counselor, and a psychiatrist. Each of them helped me in different ways. Even though each of our bodies is unique, there are some symptoms that seem to be common in most depression sufferers. RELATED: 7 figures from the Bible who battled depressionDepression Vs. Bad Day 1: You wake up each morning with a sense of dread.
A bad day is usually just that, a bad day. One day. Not day after day after day after day. If you’ve been having bad days for weeks on end, it is time to consider that it might be more than a bad day. When you wake up with that hopeless feeling that you’re never going to feel better again, that is more than a bad day. [caption id="attachment_30250" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Credit: ThinkStock[/caption]Depression Vs. Bad Day 2: The things that once were fun for you are no longer fun.
What are your hobbies? What do you love doing? Where do you serve in your church? Have those things lost their joy for you? Do you no longer enjoy your very favorite things?Depression Vs. Bad Day 3: Your motivation for normal, everyday things is gone.
This was a HUGE one for me. I could not find motivation to fix dinner, wash clothes, even smile and make small talk. And it wasn’t that I just couldn’t “muster up the energy.” Depression makes these normal, everyday things feel flat out impossible. Like in my brain, I was thinking, “there is no possible way I can get these dishes loaded into the dishwasher.” It wasn’t laziness; it was a mental block. My body would not let me move forward. RELATED: An unlikely hero leads a woman out of depressionDepression Vs. Bad Day 4: You feel lonely even though you are surrounded by people who love you.
This is a hard one for many people. I have friends that love me and would ask how I was doing. Some days I could be more honest than others, but it took me awhile to get there. Probably a long while. It was a long time before I could even say “depression” out loud. I had to remind myself that I. Was. Not. Alone. But those reminders didn’t feel real to me. I was overly sensitive and borderline paranoid that people didn’t want to be around me. So, I would withdraw even more. One of the things that happens to me when I’m at my lowest is the racing thoughts of anxiety. Just walking into a room of people would feel overwhelming to me. I just knew no one wanted me there. I was highly irrational. Those irrational, racing thoughts were a big part of my struggle because they led me further down the spiral of despair. [caption id="attachment_30251" align="aligncenter" width="285"] Credit: ThinkStock[/caption]Depression Vs. Bad Day 5: You don’t feel like going anywhere or doing anything.
Some days it isn’t a matter of want to, it literally feels impossible. I would dread appointments and even cancel them. Getting myself and the kids out the door literally felt like an impossible feat. My head would be clouded, I would look around and literally not know what to do to get us all ready. It can be crippling, really. So, I don’t want to leave you with all the difficult things that go along with depression. I want to leave you with hope. RELATED: Remember these 3 things when life gets hardWhat can you do if you find yourself suffering?
First of all, please ask for help. Please talk to someone. Tell your husband. Tell a friend, pastor or counselor. I know that first step is so very hard. But the people you love most will want to help you and ensure that you receive the help you need. I promise you that once you say it out loud to someone, it will get easier to talk about. Let others in. You are loved. Don’t stop going to church… even if you don’t want to go anywhere! Let others pray for you. Share your heart. Chances are, others have walked this road and will open up and encourage you as well! Dig deep into the well of God’s Word. He is your living water. Don’t give up on God. We may not always feel His nearness… but remember, our feelings do not equal truth. We know without a shadow of doubt that God is always with us. We know He has a plan for our lives. We know He sent His son out of love for us. Keep repeating truth to your heart. Preach the gospel to yourself. Remind your heart and mind that Christ is your hope and HE IS ALIVE. That means our hope is alive! We may not feel an ounce of hope in us, but Christ is there and He is our hope. Candace Crabtree is just a broken mama thankful for grace and new mercies every morning. She and her husband live in East Tennessee where they homeschool their 3 kids. Candace also enjoys teaching piano, coffee, good books and blogging at His Mercy Is New. On her blog she shares encouragement for weary women from God's Word along with resources for learning to pray the Scriptures. [rsnippet id="2" name="ArticleAd-300x250-3"]Now, here are some great ways to make a bad day better!
Credit: CrosswalkToday's Devotional
A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith - Your Daily Prayer - October 25
What does it take to deepen and strengthen our faith? 2 Timothy 4:7 likens our faith to running a race: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith - Your Daily Prayer - October 25
What does it take to deepen and strengthen our faith? 2 Timothy 4:7 likens our faith to running a race: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Past Stories
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
- Owner's Trip to the Vet with Unwell Dog Results in the Craziest X-Ray
- After Getting Lost in Yellowstone, This Precious Cat Made His Way Back Home To California
- Mom's Funny Response To Daughter's Dirty Sock On The Floor Goes Viral & Ends Up Doing Good
- A Kidnapped Boy Is Found After 70 Years and Reunited With His Family
- This Puppy Was Found With a Note That Read 'Help Me,' Now He's Looking For a New Home
- Excited Mom Couldn't Wait to See Son's Back to School Pictures, but Funny Results Make Her LOL
- When This Police Officer Pulled Her Over, He Changed Her Life Forever
- She Just Met Her Vietnam Veteran Father After 50 Years, Now He is Walking Her Down the Aisle
- Fearless Father Waits on Porch to Catch the Stranger Peeking in His Daughter's Window
- This 5th Grade Teacher Eats Lunch In the Cafeteria Every Day
- Amy Grant Has a New Perspective After Losing Her 'Superpower' in Bike Accident
- 'God Did It' Says 18-Year-Old After Waking Up From a Coma Following a Crash
- These Four Sisters Share a Birthday, Which is Quite the Miracle
- Dad Harmony Sings a Beautiful A Cappella Rendition of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love'
- Couple's Outstanding Boogie Woogie Dance Performance
- Siblings’ Cover of Dolly Parton’s Classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ Is Incredible
- Pastor and Wife Were Killed in a Car Accident, But Their Kids Have a Message of Hope
- Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Music Video by Celtic Woman
- Carrie Underwood Helps With Leading Worship at Tennessee Church
- 8-Year-Old Kid's To-Do List Goes Viral As a Wholesome Reminder for Us All
- 'Holy Forever' Lyric Video by Chris Tomlin and CAIN
- Elementary Teacher Talks About the Power of Words and Kindness By Using Toothpaste
- Prayers Pour in for Loretta Lynn's Family After the Death of the Late Singer's First Grandchild
- Dennis Quaid Singing 'On My Way To Heaven" is an Inspiring Performance
- Charming Elderly Couple Share Sweet Dance to 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"
- Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Adorably Sing a Sassy Duet to Celebrate 36 Years of Marriage
- Rory Feek Performs Beautiful Tune 'I Do' After Finding Love Again
- Driver Shows Up to Deliver Pizza to Elderly Man's House, Then Comes Back with His Lawnmower
- What Parents & Grandparents Don't Know About 'Easy' Recipe Trend Could Be Dangerous
- Nearly 1,500 Students Gather to Worship Jesus at Texas A&M Revival
- 96-Year-Old Shares the Secret to a Happy Life and His Words of Wisdom Are Truly Inspiring
- In God's Divine Timing, Wedding Ring Is Returned to Man's Widow After It's Lost for 60+ Years
Top Music Videos
CCM Magazine Steven Curtis Chapman Shares the Heartfelt Message that Helped While Grieving His Daughter
Crowder Crowder Moving Official 'Somebody Prayed' Music Video
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mandisa Mandisa - Shackles (Praise You)
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson 'The Cross' Powerful Lyric Video
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.